Shared Parenting in Belmont County

Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated June 11, 2026

Belmont County, Ohio · St. Clairsville

Shared parenting names both parents as residential parents and legal custodians under a written plan. In Belmont County a shared parenting plan is filed in the General Division (married or divorcing parents) or the Probate & Juvenile Court (never-married parents), and the court approves it only if it addresses every R.C. 3109.04(G) factor and serves the children's best interest.

How do I ask for shared parenting in Belmont County, Ohio?

Submit a written Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) addressing physical living arrangements, the holiday and vacation schedule, child support, decision-making authority, transportation, school and health-care decisions, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution. File it in the General Division divorce or dissolution if you are married, or in the Probate & Juvenile Court if you were never married. The court applies the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors and can interview the children in chambers (Local Rule 12.31). Parents of minor children complete the "Helping Children Cope with Divorce" class before the final hearing (Local Rule 12.29).

Ohio Custody by the Numbers

Best interest The single standard that governs every Ohio custody decision Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04
No set age There is no age a child can choose a parent — the judge weighs a mature child's wishes Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(B)
Change in circumstances Required, plus a best-interest finding, before the residential parent can be changed Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(E)(1)
Shared parenting Either parent may ask the court for a joint parenting plan Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3109.04(G)

Compare Types of Custody in Ohio

Custody type	Who makes major decisions	Where the child lives	Best when
Shared parenting	Both parents jointly, under a written plan	Time is split per the plan (not always 50/50)	Parents can communicate and cooperate on decisions
Sole legal & residential	One parent	Primarily with that parent	One parent is unable or unwilling to co-parent
Split custody	Each parent for the child in their care	Siblings are divided between the two homes	Rare — only when it serves each child's best interest
Legal custody to a non-parent	The relative or caregiver granted custody	With the non-parent caregiver	Neither parent can safely care for the child

Where to File: Belmont County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, OH 43950
Phone: (740) 699-2169
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: belmontcountycoc.org/

Juvenile Branch (Never-Married Parents)

Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court
101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, OH 43950
Phone: (740) 699-2141
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Shared Parenting is the right path if…

Both parents want to be residential parents and legal custodians.
You can cooperate enough to follow a detailed written schedule and share decisions.
You can put every R.C. 3109.04(G) term in writing (schedule, support, decisions, disputes).
Shared parenting serves the children's best interest under R.C. 3109.04(F).

Filing Fees

Shared parenting decided inside a divorce is part of the $251 divorce deposit · never-married shared parenting via the Probate & Juvenile Court (deposit set by that court) · GAL deposit up to $1,000 in contested cases (Local Rule 12.30) · confirm amounts with the Clerk (740) 699-2169 or the Juvenile Court (740) 699-2141

Forms & Filing Packets

Shared parenting inside a divorce (married parents)

File a proposed Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) with the General Division divorce, plus the parenting and health-insurance affidavits and the support worksheet. Complete the parenting class before the final hearing.

Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.
Parenting Proceeding / UCCJEA Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 3) — Required in any case with minor children. Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years, confirming Ohio's UCCJEA jurisdiction.
Health Insurance Affidavit (Ohio SC Affidavit 4) — Discloses whether health insurance is available for the children through either parent's employer, so the court can order medical support.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time the court sets or changes support.
"Helping Children Cope with Divorce" Parenting Class (OSU Extension, Belmont County) — Under Local Rule 12.29, parents of minor children in a divorce, legal separation, or annulment must complete the "Helping Children Cope with Divorce" class through OSU Extension (Belmont County) and file the Certificate of Attendance before the final hearing. Waivable only for good cause.

Shared parenting for never-married parents

Once parentage is established, file a Shared Parenting Plan in the Probate & Juvenile Court using its local forms with the UCCJEA affidavit and the support worksheet.

Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court Forms — The combined Probate & Juvenile Court's local forms for unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time — and the Belmont Grandparent Power of Attorney. Obtain the current packet from the Juvenile Court, (740) 699-2141.
Shared Parenting Plan (Ohio SC Form 20) — Required when both parents are asking to be designated residential parents under R.C. 3109.04(G). Must be notarized.
Parenting Proceeding Affidavit (UCCJEA · R.C. 3127.23) — Lists where each child has lived for the last 5 years and with whom, confirming Ohio's jurisdiction over custody under the UCCJEA. Required in any case involving minor children.
Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet (2024 Income Shares) — Run the official Ohio Child Support Calculator, print, and sign. Required any time you ask the court to set or change support.

How to File Shared Parenting in Belmont County

Confirm the right court. Married or divorcing parents file in the General Division; never-married parents file in the Probate & Juvenile Court, (740) 699-2141.
Draft a complete plan. A Shared Parenting Plan (Form 20) must address living arrangements, the holiday/vacation schedule, support, decision-making, transportation, school and health-care decisions, tax exemptions, and dispute resolution. Plans that skip a factor are sent back.
Complete the parenting class. Parents of minor children complete the "Helping Children Cope with Divorce" class and file the Certificate of Attendance before the final hearing (Local Rule 12.29).
Attend the hearing. The court applies the R.C. 3109.04(F) best-interest factors, may interview the children in chambers (Local Rule 12.31), and approves the plan only if it serves the children's best interest.

Belmont County Practice Notes

Best-interest standard governs. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) lists 10+ factors: each parent's wishes, the child's wishes (when of sufficient age), the child's interaction with parents/siblings, adjustment to home/school/community, mental and physical health of all involved, the parent more likely to facilitate court-approved parenting time, child support compliance, criminal history, residence outside Ohio, and any history of abuse.
"Helping Children Cope with Divorce" class required. Under Local Rule 12.29, parents of minor children must complete the "Helping Children Cope with Divorce" class through OSU Extension (Belmont County) and file the Certificate of Attendance before the final hearing. The Court may waive the class only for good cause.
Guardian ad Litem deposit up to $1,000. In a contested custody case the Court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem and order a deposit of up to $1,000, with additional sums if the work requires it (Local Rule 12.30). The cost is typically allocated between the parents, and the GAL files a written best-interest report before the merit hearing.
In-camera interview of the children (Local Rule 12.31). On request, the judge or magistrate may interview the children privately in chambers (in camera) to learn their wishes under R.C. 3109.04(B). The interview is recorded and the children are not questioned in open court.
Mediation under Local Rule 20. The Court may refer contested custody and parenting-time issues to mediation (Mediation Office (740) 695-2121 ext. 1043). Mediation is not used in domestic-violence cases, and it is voluntary and confidential — it does not replace the Court's final decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which court handles family-law cases in Belmont County?: The General Division of the Belmont County Court of Common Pleas (101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville) hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, and annulment cases — there is no separate Domestic Relations court. The General Division Magistrate runs the divorce docket (Local Rule 12.4 / 12.6). The combined Probate & Juvenile Court handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time (Juvenile, under R.C. 2151.23) and non-parent custody, (740) 699-2141. Domestic Relations cases are filed through the Clerk of Courts, Laura Zupko, Legal Division (3rd floor), (740) 699-2169.
Is a parenting class required in a Belmont County divorce with children?: Yes. Under Local Rule 12.29, parents of minor children in a divorce, legal separation, or annulment must complete the "Helping Children Cope with Divorce" class through OSU Extension (Belmont County) and file the Certificate of Attendance before the final hearing. The Court may waive the class only for good cause. Confirm the current schedule and any cost with OSU Extension or the Clerk at (740) 699-2169.
When does Belmont County appoint a Guardian ad Litem?: In a contested custody case, the Court can appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) to investigate and recommend what is in the children's best interest. Under Local Rule 12.30 the Court may order a GAL deposit of up to $1,000, with additional sums if the work requires it, and the cost is typically allocated between the parents. The GAL files a written report before the merit hearing.
Do unmarried parents file custody in the General Division or Juvenile Court in Belmont County?: If you are married to (or were married to) the other parent, custody, parenting time, and child support are decided inside your divorce or dissolution in the General Division. If you were never married, parentage and custody are handled by the Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court, (740) 699-2141. Under R.C. 3109.042 an unmarried mother is the sole residential parent until a court orders otherwise. Grandparent and other non-parent custody requests are filed in the Juvenile Court.

Free Local Resources in Belmont County

Belmont County Clerk of Courts (General Division). Current filing deposits, the Local Rule 12 divorce forms (101, 103/104, 105), and filing instructions for divorce, legal separation, annulment, and post-decree matters. File with the Legal Division on the 3rd floor, 101 West Main Street, St. Clairsville; (740) 699-2169. Local rules at https://belmontcountycoc.org/local-rules and the cost schedule at https://belmontcountycoc.org/costs-and-fees.
Belmont County Probate & Juvenile Court. Handles unmarried-parent parentage, custody, support, and parenting time, plus the Belmont Grandparent Power of Attorney. Forms at https://www.belmontcountyohiocourts.com/forms/; Juvenile (740) 699-2141, Probate (740) 699-2144.
Belmont County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Belmont County's IV-D agency opens child-support cases, runs wage withholding, distributes payments, and enforces orders. Belmont County DJFS, 68145 Hammond Road, St. Clairsville; (740) 695-1075 option 8; https://belmontcdjfs.com/.
Belmont County Children Services. Investigates child abuse and neglect and supports kinship caregivers. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or Children Services at (740) 695-3813.
Representing Yourself in Belmont County. The Clerk's self-represented-litigant resources and filing guidance for the General Division at https://belmontcountycoc.org/representing-yourself. The Clerk cannot give legal advice but can explain what a complete filing requires.

Related to your shared parenting case

Paternity & Custody — Establish parentage and build a parenting plan that protects your children.
Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on shared parenting and related Ohio family law topics.

Shared Parenting in Ohio: How Joint Custody Really Works — Shared parenting is Ohio's version of joint custody — both parents stay legal custodians and share major decisions. Here's what a plan must cover and how courts decide.
Ohio Child Custody Laws: What Every Parent Should Know — Ohio custody law turns on one principle: the best interest of the child. This guide explains sole custody, shared parenting, the statutory factors, and how courts decide.
Fathers' Rights in Ohio: Custody, Paternity, and Parenting Time — Ohio law does not favor mothers over fathers — but unmarried fathers must establish paternity before they have any rights. Here's how fathers protect their relationship with their children.

Keep exploring

Ohio Shared Parenting guide — Statewide overview of shared parenting in Ohio.
Akron family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Akron metro.
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